Food to the fore in UK Pubs Week

Hundreds of licensees around the UK are planning to use National Pubs Week to promote their food offerings. Many pubs will be featuring special menus or offering food promotions during the Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) organised event which takes place from 21 to 28 February. National Pubs Week aims to help preserve the British local by reminding people what pubs have to offer. Food is now a vital part of most pubs' turnover, and National Pubs Week is the ideal opportunity to highlight your offering. Camra head of campaigns Mike Benner said: "The quality and range of food are very important factors when choosing which pub to visit. The week offers the ideal opportunity for pubs to show off the different meals they have on offer and try a variety of promotions to see how these could benefit future business." Many pubs are experimenting with food throughout National Pubs Week with events including sausage and jazz nights, Mexican and curry nights, cooking with beer and raising money for local charities by donating money from meals sold. Susan Nowak, author of the Beer Cook Book, says: "Pubs Week is a great opportunity to attract new custom by showing people what delicious, great-value food they can get in a pub ­ and by tempting regulars who normally just drop by for a drink to have a meal as well. "Camra has declared this year Beer and Food Year so why not make your menu that bit different by putting on some beer dishes with a wow factor, and suggest different beers to accompany the dishes on your specials board." Among the planned events will be a Thai night at the Cherry Tree, in Tintern, Monmouthshire. Jill Pocock, the pub's head chef, says: "Food is a major component to our inn, therefore, whilst deciding what to do in National Pubs Week, we decided to combine the traditional pastimes of a pub and blend them with something different." Camra has produced free promo packs for pubs that wish to take part in National Pubs Week. These include a selection of A3 and A4 posters, beer mats and advice sheets on ideas for events and how to promote them to local people and media. For more info on National Pubs Week visit www.camra.org.uk/pubsweek or call 01727 867201.